GRACE, in
our text, is compared to a sovereign. Now a sovereign, considered as
such, is invested with regal power, and the highest authority. Grace,
therefore, in her beneficent government, must exert and manifest
sovereign power ? must supersede the reign, and counteract the mighty
and destructive operations of sin; or she cannot bring the sinner to
eternal life. For the Holy Spirit has compared sin to a sovereign, whose
reign terminates in death.

As sin appears, clothed in
horrid deformity, and armed with destructive power, inflicting temporal
death, and menacing eternal flames; so Grace appears on the
throne, arrayed in the beauties of holiness, and smiling with divine
benevolence; touched with feelings of the tenderest compassion, and
armed with all the magnificence of invincible power. Fully determined to
exert her authority and gratify her compassion, under the conduct of
infinite wisdom; to the everlasting honor of inflexible justice,
inviolable veracity, and every divine perfection ? by rescuing the
condemned offender from the jaws of destruction; by speaking peace to
the alarmed consciences of damnable delinquents; by restoring to
apostate creatures and vile miscreants a supreme love to God and delight
in the ways of holiness; and, finally, by bringing them safe to
everlasting honor and joy. In a word, the heart of this mighty sovereign
is compassion itself: her looks are love; her language is balm to the
bleeding soul, and her aria salvation. Such a sovereign is GRACE.
Those who are delivered by her must enjoy a complete salvation. Those
who live under her most benign government must be happy indeed.

Divine grace, as reigning in our
salvation, not only appears, but appears with majesty: not only shines,
but triumphs: providing all things, freely bestowing all things
necessary to our eternal happiness. Grace does not set our salvation on
foot, by accommodating its terms and conditions to the enfeebled
capacities of lapsed creatures; but begins, carries on, and completes
the arduous work. Grace, as a sovereign, does not rescue the sinner from
deserved ruin, furnish him with new abilities, and then leave him, by
their proper use, to resist the tempter, to mortify his lusts, to attain
those holy qualities, and perform those righteous acts, which render him
fit for eternal happiness, and give him a title to it. No; for if the
province and work of grace were circumscribed in this manner, things of
the last importance to the glory of God and the felicity of man, would
be left in the most uncertain and perilous situation. And, admitting the
possibility of any sinner being saved in such a way, there would be
ample scope for the exertions of spiritual pride, and much room for
boasting; which would be diametrically contrary to the honor of the Most
High, and frustrate the noble designs of grace. This matchless favor,
far from being satisfied with laying the foundation, rears the
superstructure also: it not only settles the preliminaries, but executes
the very business itself. The Pharisee in the parable made his
acknowledgments to preventing and assisting grace: for, God, I thank
thee, was his language. It is evident, however, that his views of
grace were very contracted; and his hopes arising from it very
deceitful. Would we then view grace as reigning, we must consider it as
the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end of our salvation; that
the unrivaled honor of that greatest of all works may be given to the God of all grace.

Having taken this general view of
reigning grace, I would now ask, What think you, reader, of this
wonderful favor? Is it worthy of God? Is it suitable to your case? Or
know you not, that you are by nature under the guilt and dominion of
sin? Of sin, that dreadful sovereign; of sin, that worst of tyrants.
Sin reigns, says the apostle; and the end of its reign, where the
sovereignty of grace does not interpose, is eternal death. Can you sleep
away your time, and dream of being finally happy, while under the power
of so malignant a sovereign. Shall the toys and trifles of a transitory
world amuse, when your soul, your immortal ALL, is at stake? If
so, how lamentable your condition! how dreadful your state! Awake! ?
arise! ? Bow the knee to divine grace, O stubborn rebel! while she holds
out the golden scepter of pardon and of peace. Acknowledge her
supremacy, submit to her government, before justice ascend the throne
and vengeance launch her bolts. For then an eternal bar will lie against
every application for mercy, though arising from the most pressing want.

Or, if awake in your conscience, do
you think it possible to effect your own deliverance? Alas! you are
entirely without strength to perform any such thing; and grace was never
intended as an auxiliary to help the weak, but well-disposed, to save
themselves. The mercy of God and the gospel of Christ, were never
designed to assist and reward the righteous; but to relieve the
miserable and save the desperate ? to deliver those who have no other
assistance, nor any other hope. Were you acquainted with your abject
vassalage, were you convinced by the Spirit of truth, that there is no
possible way of escape, but by reigning grace; then would you cry for
help, and then the relief that grace affords would be all your salvation, and all your desire.

If, on the other hand, you are
burdened with sin and harassed by clamorous fears of being east into
hell; if, sensible of your native depravity, the multiplied iniquities
of your life, the many shameful defects attending your best services,
and your present absolute unworthiness, you are ready to sink in
despondency; O remember, that grace has erected her throne! This
forbids despair. For her wonderful throne is erected, not on the ruins
of justice, not on the dishonor of the law; but on the BLOOD OF THE
LAMB. The inconceivably perfect obedience, and the infinitely
meritorious death of the Son of God, form its mighty basis. Here grace
is highly exalted: here grace appears in state, dispensing her favors
and showing her glory. To such a benevolent and condescending Sovereign,
the basest may have free access. By such a powerful sovereign the most
various, multiplied, and pressing wants may be relieved with the utmost
ease and greatest alacrity. Remember, disconsolate soul, that the name,
the nature, the office of GRACE ENTHRONED, loudly attest, that
the greatest unworthiness and the most profligate crimes are no bar to
the sinner in coming to Christ for salvation; in looking to sovereign
favor for all that he wants. Nay, they demonstrate, that the unworthy
and sinful are the only persons with whom grace is at all
concerned: This is amazing! this is delightful!

Ho! all ye children of want and sons
of wretchedness! hither ye may come with the utmost freedom. Be it know
to you, be it never forgotten by you, that JEHOVAH considered
your indigent case, and designed your complete relief, when he erected
this wonderful throne. Your names are not omitted in the heavenly grant:
nay, ye are the only persons that are blessed with a right of
access to this mercy-seat. Did sinners more generally know their state,
and the glorious nature of grace as exalted in Majesty; how would
the throne of this mighty sovereign be crowded! ? crowded, not by
persons adorned with fine accomplishments ? but, with the poor, the
maimed, the halt, and the blind. With longing hearts and uplifted
hands, big with expectation and sure of success, they would throng her
courts. Thither they would flee, as a cloud for number, and as
doves for speed: for there is provision made to supply all their
wants. As persons of all ranks and of every character are equally
destitute of any righteous or valid plea for admission into the eternal
kingdom; so, feeling their want of spiritual blessings, they have
equally free access to this munificent sovereign, and the same ground to
expect complete relief. Here, and in this respect, there is no
difference between the devout professor, and the abandoned profligate;
the chaste virgin, and the infamous prostitute. For, being all
criminals, and under the same condemnation, they have not the smallest
gleam of hope, except what shines upon them in that compassionate
proclamation which is issued from the throne of grace by the eternal
Sovereign. (Isa. 55:1-3. Matt 11:28. John 6:37, and 7:37. Rev 22:17.)
But, as that proclamation is expressive of the freest favor and the
richest grace; including offenders of the worst characters, publishing
pardon for sins of the deepest dye, and all ratified by veracity itself;
it affords sufficient encouragement to the vilest wretch that lives, who
is willing to owe his all to divine bounty, without hesitation to
receive the heavenly blessing, and with gratitude to rejoice in the
royal donation." ? Yes, thine it is, O SOVEREIGN GRACE! to raise
the poor from the dunghill, and the needy out of the dust. Thine it is,
to set them on thrones of glory, and to number them among the princes of
heaven." Remember this, my soul, and be this thy comfort: and may the
Lord enable both the author and the reader to see eye to eye the riches
of reigning grace!

Having endeavoured to show how grace
reigns in our salvation in general; I shall now proceed, in the
following chapters, to make it appear that grace reigns more
particularly, in our election ? calling ? pardon ? justification ?
adoption ? sanctification ? and perseverance in the faith to
eternal life. These are so many essential branches of our salvation; and
in the vouchsafement of these capital blessings, grace reigns;
manifesting an authority and exerting a power truly divine and
infinitely glorious.